Methods of using polymer-coated particulates

Abstract

Methods are provided including a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising particulates at least partially coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer is deposited on the particulates by at least partially coating the particulates with a polymer solution comprising the polymer and a solvent and then exposing the particulates to an aqueous medium such that the solvent substantially dissociates from the polymer solution and such that the polymer substantially remains on the particulates; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation; and, depositing at least a portion of the particulates in the portion of the subterranean formation.

1. A method for depositing a polymer on particulates suitable for use in a subterranean operation comprising:
 providing particulates and a polymer solution comprising a polymer and a polar, aprotic solvent; 
 at least partially coating the particulates with the polymer solution to create coated particulates; and, 
 exposing the coated particulates to an aqueous medium such that the solvent substantially dissociates from the polymer solution and such that the polymer substantially remains on the particulates. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyacrylonitrile, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and styrene, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene, a polyacylate, a polymethacrylate, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and a derivative of poly(vinyl alcohol). 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of: N,N-dimethylformamide; acetone; tetrahydrofuran; 1,4-dioxane; dimethylsulfoxide; tetramethylenesulfone; acetonitrile; hexamethylphosphoramide; 1,3-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone; propylene carbonate, and ethylene carbonate. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is present in the polymer solution in an amount of from about 5% to about 95% by weight of the polymer solution. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulates comprise low-quality particulates. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulates are coated with the polymer in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the particulates. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the aqueous medium comprises an aqueous fracturing fluid. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 7  wherein the particulates are coated with the partitioning agent in an amount of from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the particulates and wherein the partitioning agent comprises at least one partitioning agent selected from the group consisting of: a salt, barium sulfate, benzoic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, a chitin, chitosan, protein, aliphatic polyester, poly(lactide), poly(glycolide), poly(ε-caprolactone), poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(anhydride), aliphatic polycarbonate, poly(orthoester), poly(amino acid), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(phosphazene), degradable polymer, calcium oxide, a wax, gilsonite, sulfonated asphalt, naphthalenesulfonate, and an oil-soluble resin. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising at least partially coating the particulates with a partitioning agent. 
   
   
     10. A method of treating a subterranean formation comprising:
 providing a treatment fluid comprising particulates at least partially coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer is deposited on the particulates by at least partially coating the particulates with a polymer solution comprising the polymer and a polar, aprotic solvent and then exposing the particulates to an aqueous medium such that the solvent substantially dissociates from the polymer solution and such that the polymer substantially remains on the particulates; 
 introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation; and, 
 depositing at least a portion of the particulates in the portion of the subterranean formation. 
 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the treatment fluid comprises an aqueous liquid and a gelling agent. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 10  wherein the polymer comprises at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of: polyacrylonitrile, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and styrene, a copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene, a polyacylate, a polymethacrylate, a poly(vinyl alcohol), and a derivative of poly(vinyl alcohol). 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 10  wherein the polar, aprotic solvent comprises propylene carbonate. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the solvent comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of: N,N-dimethylformamide; acetone; tetrahydrofuran; 1,4-dioxane; dimethylsulfoxide; tetramethylenesulfone; acetonitrile; hexamethyiphosphoramide; 1,3-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone; propylene carbonate; and ethylene carbonate. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 10  wherein the polymer is present in the polymer solution in an amount of from about 5% to about 95% by weight of the polymer solution. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 10  wherein the particulates are coated with the polymer in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 25% by weight of the particulates. 
   
   
     17. A method of creating a propped fracture in a portion of a subterranean formation comprising:
 hydraulically fracturing a portion of a subterranean formation to create or enhance at lease one fracture therein; 
 providing a fracturing fluid comprising particulates at least partially coated with a polymer, wherein the polymer is deposited on the particulates by at least partially coating the particulates with a polymer solution comprising the polymer and a solvent and then exposing the particulates to an aqueous medium such that the solvent substantially dissociates from the polymer solution and such that the polymer substantially remains on the particulates; 
 placing the fracturing fluid into the at least one fracture; and, 
 depositing at least a portion of the particulates in the at least one fracture. 
 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 1  wherein the particulates comprise at least one particulate material selected from the group consisting of: sand; bauxite; a ceramic material; a glass material; a polymer material; a polytetrafluoroethylene material; a nut shell piece; a seed shell piece; a cured resinous particulate comprising a nut shell piece; a cured resinous particulate comprising a seed shell piece; a fruit pit piece; a cured resinous particulate comprising a fruit pit piece; and wood.